F1 driver pairing criticised as team's former boss slams lack of leadership
Alpine are lacking a strong leader to become the face of the team, according to the manufacturer’s former boss Cyril Abiteboul.
Alpine are currently lagging some way behind the biggest teams in Formula One, sitting in sixth place in the constructors’ table. They have taken just 57 points so far this season, putting them behind runaway leaders Red Bull, Mercedes, Aston Martin, Ferrari and McLaren.
The team, who were rebranded in 2021, are led by Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly, who sit 10th and 12th in the drivers’ standings currently. The French pair are yet to make much of an impact on F1 and Abiteboul, who was in charge of the team from 2014 to 2020 when it ran under the Renault name, is not impressed.
Speaking to France Info, he said: “You mention Esteban and Pierre. Two names is one too many. When you close your eyes and think of Mercedes, you think of Lewis Hamilton, even though Nico Rosberg did some extraordinary things.
“When you think of Red Bull, you think of the first cycle around Sebastian Vettel, then the second cycle around Max Verstappen. There needs to be a driver who is also a bit of a team boss, the strength of personality is fundamental. At the moment, the grid is very competitive with all cars finishing on the same lap.
Pierre Gasly was allowed to leave AlphaTauri due to worries over his F1 future
“In a while, there will be a near-level playing field and what will make the difference is ambition, determination.”
Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly have been criticised (Getty Images)Alpine used to be able to call upon the personality of Fernando Alonso, but the Spaniard left the team to join Aston Martin for the 2023 season. The 42-year-old currently sits third in the driver standings, behind the Red Bull pairing of Verstappen and Sergio Perez.
It is not just on the track that Alpine are struggling – behind the scenes the team is undergoing major changes. Last month it was announced that Laurent Rossi was being replaced as chief executive by Phillipe Krief, while team boss Otmar Szafnauer and sporting director Alan Permane were axed after the Belgian Grand Prix.
Abiteboul is concerned for Alpine’s future amid such turmoil. “Every element that is changed potentially puts the team spirit and culture at risk. It is these two aspects in particular that are lacking at Alpine,” he said.
“The investments have been made, the resources, the group’s ambitions, the corporate strategy with the Alpine brand – it’s all there. When a team has everything, it needs something that transcends it, someone to drive it. The strength of an individual who can pull 1,000 people together is very unifying.”
Alpine do have some time on their hands to rectify the current problems, with the next race in the F1 calendar not scheduled until August 27 in the Netherlands. All eyes will be on Red Bull star Verstappen, who will be aiming to continue his utter dominance of the sport at his home track, but Alpine have other concerns.
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